Tinnitus outcome profile and tinnitus control
Abstract
This reports recommends the consideration of development of additional outcome measures to be used as a battery of subjective self-assessment questionnaires for patients with tinnitus. The goal is improved overall care for the tinnitus patient. The name of the battery of outcome questionnaires is TOP. Five existing outcome measurements have been incorporated into the profile called Tinnitus Outcome Profile (TOP); the Tinnitus Intensity Index(TII), the Tinnitus Annoyance Index (TAI), the Tinnitus Stress Test (TST), the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and the Measurement of Depression Scale (MSDS). Frequently there is an inconsistency between the self-report outcomes and the patient’s subjective report to the doctor. This study reports outcomes based on TOP for 19 patients who were seen for evaluation and treatment of subjective idiopathic tinnitus of the severe disabling type who completed a treatment protocol called Receptor Targeted Therapy directed to the GABA-A Receptor. The drugs used were GabaPentin and Clonazepam. Using the 0.05 significance level, the TII, TAI, and TST scores all declined significantly over time. There was no significant change in either the THI or MSDS. The percent of tinnitus control reported to the doctor by the patient did not appear to be correlated with the degree of change measured on the TOP.
International Tinnitus Journal – ITJ, go to http://www.tinnitusjournal.com/
